OMB urges performance-based management

Agencies should use performance-based management systems to improve acquisitions practices, according to a Office of Management and Budget memo.

A presidential order issued in March told agency heads to improve the effectiveness of acquisition practices and the resulting contracts, the Oct. 29 OMB memo noted. Performance-based management systems should be used to meet those goals, according to the memo from Lesley Field, deputy administrator at OMB's Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP).

The OFPP wants to improve the use of performance-based management systems for both information technology and non-IT programs, according to the memo, which also said the OFPP plans to evaluate strategies for applying performance-based management to different non-IT spending.

The memo asked agencies to provide budget and performance data for their 10 largest planned or current major real property construction projects. The responses will be used to help identify programs where performance-based management system practices are strong and may serve as a model for other agencies.